Cemeteries Operative

Why Southwark?

We are the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues and social enterprises and we have a young, diverse and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities. Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

What You'll Be Doing

Do you see yourself providing compassionate, high-quality services to residents at some of the most important moments in their lives?

Can you use your experience in bereavement, grounds maintenance, or care-related services to support families with professionalism and respect?

If yes, we have the perfect role for you!

Our Bereavement Services team is looking for a passionate and dedicated Cemetery Operative to join our amazing team and help make a difference today.

About the Role:

Southwark Bereavement Services manages three cemeteries and one crematorium, delivering respectful and sensitive services for the bereaved.

As a Cemetery Operative, you will undertake and lead on a wide variety of burial, exhumation, and grounds maintenance duties. You will play a vital role in preparing graves, maintaining memorial safety, and ensuring the highest standards of health and safety compliance in line with statutory legislation and local regulations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Preparing and excavating graves, verifying plot numbers, installing and removing shoring equipment, and reinstating sites after services
• Carrying out burial and exhumation duties, including reuse of burial sites as part of sustainability programmes
• Maintaining memorial safety through inspections and accurate record keeping
• Operating and carrying out pre-use inspections on heavy plant and machinery (e.g. excavators, dumpers, lorries)
• Delivering landscaping and grounds maintenance including turfing, grass cutting, hedge trimming, and general upkeep
• Supporting funerals and working sensitively with families, funeral directors, ministers, stonemasons, and contractors
• Contributing to public events, annual memorial services, and official visits

You will help ensure our cemeteries remain safe, dignified, and welcoming spaces for residents and visitors

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who is organised, compassionate, and committed to delivering excellent customer service in sensitive environments.

You will:

• Organise plans and prioritise workloads effectively
• Be flexible and responsive to the needs of the service
• Work independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• Identify problems and produce practical, innovative solutions
• Communicate clearly and professionally, both orally and in writing, with residents, senior officers, members, and community representatives
• Have experience within a bereavement, care-related, local authority, or similar environment
• Demonstrate understanding of health and safety requirements and safe working practices
• Actively promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in service delivery

About the Team:

You will join a dedicated team within the Parks & Natural Environment Division, committed to delivering high-quality, customer-focused and sensitive bereavement services.

Our culture is built on respect, professionalism, teamwork, and pride in maintaining spaces that matter deeply to our communities. We work closely with residents, community groups, charities, and partner organisations to promote active participation and engagement.

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.

Additional Information

Advert Closing Date: 11.59 pm on the 13th May 2026

Interview Date: Monday 20th May 2026

Contact Information:

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Sam Rees at sam.rees@southwark.gov.uk

Additional Information:

• Role will require working in multiple locations

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Attachments

• Click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification